“The community actually came together and raised over $100,000 to stop this project. That’s what the community is saying,” said Rachel Garfield, who lives nearby.

Denver is weeks away from a year-and-a-half shut down to redesign the golf course for storm water management. Northside neighbors have long suffered from flooding during heavy rainfall.

“We’re in an area of town that does not have sufficient infrastructure for storm water. We have a system of improvements that we’re putting in to protect lives and property,” said Nancy Kuhn, spokeswoman with Denver Public Works.

“The question is, are we going to lose 260 trees and have them replaced with some tiny trees for a storm water project for a highway expansion,” said Aaron Goldhamer, an attorney representing citizens who are opposed to the golf course redesign.

(credit: CBS)

Goldhamer also represents groups who are opposed to a project to expand and lower Interstate 70. Goldhamer believes that the interstate project is the driving force behind the reworking of City Park Golf Course.

“It’s going to be a real shame to see it get torn up in the way it’s being proposed, at enormous cost. $45 million for this project,” Goldhamer said.

Others, like longtime golfer Jennifer Bater, think the benefits will outweigh the cost.

“The views there of the skyline and the mountain range are unparalleled in the city. So it will be definitely a hotspot for the community,” said Scott Rethlake, Director of Golf for the City of Denver.

Project staff said that when the project is complete, the golf course will be home to more trees than it was before.

Along with the removal, the contractor will be planting 750 new trees, resulting in a net gain of close to 500 trees.